Twice in the past three weeks, and multiple more times than that going back the last few years, vandals have tagged and scrawled profanity on the interior of the washrooms at the Flats, a recreation area in the town of Neepawa. This time, however, they went further than paint and caused fire damage to the countertops and the stalls.

The washroom facilities, which were already being locked at 9 pm daily, have now been locked permanently since the incident until cleanup and repair can be completed. The town estimates the cost to be about $3,500 this time, but there is a cost to taxpayers every single time this happens. It’s not just an assault on public facilities but also residents’ pocketbooks.

Because of the history of vandalism, the town installed cameras on the exterior of the building - though not on the interior for privacy reasons - and after the latest incident, two individuals were arrested and will be dealt with through the justice system.

“Another thing to note,” said Nicole Cooper, Recreation Director, “I know it’s not always teens that do the damage, but just for parents to have that conversation with their kids about being respectful in spaces and making sure that everyone knows that these are for the community and if one person wrecks them, the whole community suffers.”

Full Program:
00:00 Introduction
02:38 Addressing More Vandalism at the Flats
08:53 Rotary Youth Leadership Camp
21:16 Titans vs. Dauphin Kings, March 8 highlights